Mon Sep 30 01:11:17 UTC 2024: ## Congress Demands Nirmala Sitharaman’s Resignation Over Electoral Bond Scheme Allegations

**New Delhi:** The Congress party launched a scathing attack on the BJP and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday, demanding her immediate resignation following the registration of a case against her in connection with the now-scrapped electoral bond scheme.

The case was filed in Bengaluru based on a complaint alleging that Sitharaman, alongside ED officials and BJP leaders, orchestrated an extortion racket through the electoral bond scheme, benefiting to the tune of over ₹8,000 crore.

Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Abhishek Singhvi condemned Sitharaman’s alleged involvement, calling it a “moral, legal and political” failure and demanding her immediate resignation.

“The finance minister cannot do this on her own. We know who is number 1 and number 2 and this was done on whose directions,” Singhvi said, hinting at higher-ups within the BJP.

The Congress also reiterated its call for a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the scheme through a Special Investigation Team (SIT), accusing the BJP of undermining democracy. The party stated that the electoral bond scheme, struck down by the Supreme Court earlier this year for its opaque nature, violated the right to information and posed a threat to free and fair elections.

“The larger issue is the level playing field which is necessary for free and fair polls. This is an attack on our democratic system,” Singhvi added, calling the scheme the “EBS – Extortionist BJP Scheme.”

The case against Sitharaman, BJP Karnataka chief B Y Vijayendra, and state party leader Nalin Kumar Kateel, among others, has been registered under charges of extortion, criminal conspiracy, and common intention.

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